Sue Nist waited to ride until she had an “empty nest,” with just her husband and herself in their Jacksonville Beach, Fla., home.

For a year, she rode pillion behind her husband, but found the experience less than ideal.

“My husband encouraged me to get my own bike, because he knew I absolutely HATED riding on the back of his,” Nist said. “I wanted to be able to share his love of riding with him. However, I hated the feeling of not having control or being able to see where we were going and having to look around his head all the time.”

So, she took his advice.

Seven years ago, at age 49, Nist took a basic motorcycle training course and hopped on a 750 Honda Shadow.

“I was hooked after the first day of class,” Nist said. She has never looked back.

Nowadays, she tools around Greater Jacksonville on an Indian Springfield, and she couldn’t be happier.

Here are a few insights into Nist and her riding experiences.

American Motorcyclist: What is your occupation?

Sue Nist: I am an operations manager at the Mayo Clinic.

AM: What practical benefits do you get from riding?

SN: I ride because I enjoy having an activity that both my husband and I can do together, and I love the freedom you feel when riding a motorcycle.

AM: What emotional benefits does riding provide?

SN: Stress relief and relaxation (except when having to worry about “cagers” not paying attention).

AM: What do you get from your AMA membership?

SN: I enjoy reading the magazine and keeping up to date on legislative issues related to motorcycling. There need to be tougher laws/punishments for people who hit motorcycles. Saying, “I didn’t see them,” and only getting a failure-to-yield citation when you’ve killed or maimed someone is terrible.

AM: What is your favorite ride?

SN: My favorite areas are Maggie Valley, N.C., the Blue Ridge Parkway and Cherohala Skyway.

AM: What is the best memory you associate with motorcycling?

SN: Participating in “Ride For America” on Memorial Day (Loganville, Ga., to Madison, Ga., and back) and seeing kids, adults, and nursing home residents standing and sitting out at the street waving American flags and remembering the ultimate sacrifice of our Veterans.

Almost 1,000 bikes participate each year.

We’ve done this ride for five years. We ride up from Jacksonville Beach. 2018 will be the 20th anniversary of the ride. It is such an honor to be a part of rides showing honor and respect to our military men and women.

We also participate in Wreaths Across America each year, escorting the wreaths to our National Cemetery and placing the wreaths at the gravesites.

This year, 2017, we rode to Gettysburg, Pa., from Jacksonville Beach, Fla., and spent the week with best friends we met through motorcycling. While we were there, we rode over to visit the Flight 93 Memorial. I couldn’t help but cry while there, but it’s a very peaceful place too. I will never forget it.

AM: Tell us more about motorcycling and what it means to you.

SN: I love the time my husband and I spend together riding. We have helmet communication systems, so we can talk to each other.

We have met some of our best friends riding motorcycles, people we would have never met otherwise. There is a brotherhood/sisterhood with fellow riders that people who don’t ride never get to experience.

I don’t care to ride in the rain. I don’t know of many riders who do. And I don’t care to have a radio blasting. That’s one of the reasons I got the Springfield. I just love the feel of the wind and the quiet time on the bike.